Magnetic sex-denoting ornament which attracts or repells respective similar ornaments denoting unlike or like sex

ABSTRACT

A novelty in the form of a planar circularly-shaped medallion having either a male or female symbol defined by a center portion thereof, the center portion further defining a coaxially extending cylindrically-shaped cavity. Two cylindrically-shaped magnets are positioned within the cylindrically-shaped cavity having like magnetic poles of one polarity outwardly directed for medallions symbolically defining one of the sexes and magnetic poles of the other polarity outwardly directed for medallions symbolically defining the other of the sexes so that the medallions symbolically defining the same sex repel one another and medallions symbolically defining opposite sexes attract one another.

United States Patent Mulligan [451 June 20, 1972 [52] U.S. CI ..63/23, 63/29 M [5 l Int. Cl ..A44c 25/00 [58] Field ofSearch ..63/2, 23, 29 M; 273/137 A, 273/137 AE [5 6] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,570,625 10/ 1951 Zimmerman et a1 ..46/24 2,592,395 4/1952 Cummings 2,654,929 10/1953 Feibelman ..63/29MUX 3,139,690 7/1964 Hait ..63/29 M UX FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 527,461 7/1921 France ..63/23 1,049,571 11/1966 Great Britain ..273/137 AE Primary Examiner-F. Barry Shay Attamey-Merchant & Gould [5 7] ABSTRACT A novelty in the form of a planar circularly-shaped medallion having either a male or female symbol defined by a center portion thereof, the center portion further defining a coaxially extending cylindrically-shaped cavity. Two cylindrically-shaped magnets are positioned within the cylindrically-shaped cavity having like magnetic poles of one polarity outwardly directed for medallions symbolically defining one of the sexes and magnetic poles of the other polarity outwardly directed for medallions symbolically defining the other of the sexes so that the medallions symbolically defining the same sex repel one another and medallions symbolically defining opposite sexes attract one another.

3 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention pertains to a novelty in the form of an ornament or medallion suitable for personal adornment. The use of various ornaments for the purpose of personal adornment is well known. Such use is common throughout society. More particularly, an ornament or piece of jewelry commonly referred to as a medallion is frequently worn for decorative purposes. In its common usage, and as used herein, the term medallion refers to a disk-like ornament frequently made from a metal and generally attached to a chain so as to be wearable about the neck.

Generally, the commercial success of jewelry, and particularly medallions, depends primarily upon their overall attractiveness and novelty relative to the alternative ornaments available. Thus, an attractive ornament having a novel and useful arrangement of parts is commercially desirable. With this in mind, the present invention consists of a novel arrangement of parts more fully disclosed in the following detailed description and in conjunction with the accompanying drawmg.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a novelty in the form of an ornament or medallion suitable for wearing as a necklace. The medallion is generally planar and defines as a center portion thereof either a male or female symbol (hereinafter referred to as male and female medallions, respectively). A coaxially extending cavity is generally centrally positioned within the center portion of the planar medallion. First and second permanent magnets are positioned within the central cavity generally coextensive therewith so as to have magnetic poles of one polarity (e.g., poles) outwardly directed from pposite ends of the central cavity in the male medallion and like magnetic poles of the opposite polarity (e.g., poles) outwardly directed in the female medallion. In a preferred em- FIG. 5 is a side view schematically illustrating the cylindrically shaped magnets used in conjunction with the female medallion illustrated in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings wherein like numeralsare used to designate like parts of the invention throughout the various figures, the numeral 10 is used to generally designate the disc shaped novelty provided by the present invention. The novelty 10 is suitable for use as a necklace and, as such an ornament, is commonly referred to as a medallion. As will become apparent from the description hereinbelow, novelty 10 includes a center portion which symbolically defines one of the two sexes; i.e., one embodiment has a center portion thereof defining a male symbol (i.e., d and a second embodiment has a center portion thereof defining a female'symbol (i.e., ,9 For purposes of convenience and simplicity in describing the present invention, the medallions having center portions symbolically designating one of the male and female sexes will be referred to as male and female medallions, respectively.

In each of the two embodiments, novelty I0 is in the form of a generally planar disc-shaped medallion. An annular ring 12 serves as a mounting frame within which is mounted an in tegral center portion 14. As illustrated, radially directed members 16a, 16b and 16c extend between annular ring 12 and center portion 14 so as to rigidly secure the center portion within the annular ring 12. The center portion 14 has a first portion having a semi-circularshape and a second portion 7 having a rectangular shape; the width of the rectangular porbodiment, the medallion is molded from a plastic material and the permanent magnets are cylindrically shaped.

The invention as summarily described above, and as will be more particularly described hereinbelow, provides several advantageous features. First, the ornament has a novel and useful arrangement of parts. The present invention incorporates permanent magnets in a medallion symbolically designating either the male or female sex wherein the magnets are arranged so that medallions designating opposite sexes are magnetically attractive whereas medallions designating the same sex are magnetically repelled by one another. This arrangement allows male and female medallions to be attached to one another for wearing as a pair without any mechanical fastening means and also allows opposite sexes wearing seperate medallions to identify each other. Further, as will become apparent from the description hereinbelow, the ornament provided by the present invention is attractive, relatively inexpensive, and readily manufactured.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS To more fully understand the present invention, reference should be had to the drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates a first embodiment of the present invention having a female symbol defined by a center portion of the medallion provided thereby;

FIG. 2 illustrates a second embodiment of the present invention having a male symbol defined by a center portion ofthe medallion provided thereby;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view along the section line 3- of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a side view schematically illustrating the cylindrical magnets used in conjunction with the male medallion, shown in FIGS. 2 and 3; and

tion being generally equal to the diameter of the semi-circular portion.

The center portion 14 of the medallion illustrated in FIG. 1 defines a female symbol (i.e., 9 As illustrated, the female symbol is defined by a recess 20a within the center portion generally along the periphery thereof. Similarly, the center portion 14 of the medallion illustrated in FIG. 2 defines a male symbol (i.e. d As for the female medallion, the male symbol is defined by a recess 20b within the center portion generally coextensive with the periphery thereof.

As can be seen in the cross-sectional view illustrated in FIG. 3, center portion 14 defines a central cavity 30 extending therethrough. The cavity has a generally cylindrical shape and the longitudinal axis thereof is coaxial to the central axis of the disc shaped novelty. Positioned within the cavity are two cylindrically shaped permanent magnets 34 and 35. As used herein, the term cylindrically shaped magnets refers to a magnet having a circular transverse cross-section and a cylindrically shaped opening defined by the exterior wall extending longitudinally therethrough. As illustrated, the magnets are coextensive with cavity 30. Preferably, the magnets are formed from a barium ferrite material.

As illustrated in FIGS. 4, permanent magnets 34 and 35 are positioned within cavity 30 so that magnetic poles of like polarity (i.e., polarity) are internally adjacent one another. A thin layer of glue 38 retains the magnets 34 and 35 in a fixed relationship. However, it should be understood that the magnets do not necessarily have to be glued to one another if cavity 30 is designed such that the magnets are securely held in a fixed relationship therein. As illustrated, the magnets 34 and 35 are positioned with their negative poles adjacent to one another. Positioned as such, the positive poles are outwardly directed from the opposite ends of cylindrical cavity 30 and are covered by a thin layer of the material forming the center portion 14.

Similarly, the female medallion illustrated in FIG. 1 has a cavity (not shown) similar to cavity 30 in the male medallion. Two cylindrically shaped magnets 40 and 41 (illustrated in FIG. 5) are positioned within the cavity in a manner similar to the positioning of magnets 34 and 35 in cavity 30. As illustrated in FIG. 5, magnets 40 and 41 have their positive magnetic poles adjacent one another so that the negative poles are outwardly directed from the opposite ends of the cavity provided within the female medallion.

With the male and female medallions having like magnetic poles of opposite polarity outwardly directed from the central cavity within each of the medallions, the male and female medallions will magnetically attract each other when positioned in reasonably close proximity. This allows the male and female medallions to be attached to one another in a contiguous planar relationship without any mechanical fastening means so as to be wearable as a pair. Alternatively, the medallions, when wom separately, allow sexes to identify one another by the behavior of their medallions (i.e., either magnetically attracted or repelled).

Both the female and male medallions illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, respectively, include an eyelet 50 suitable for receiving a chain therethrough so as to allow the medallions to be worn as a necklace. However, the ornament can also be provided with a clip or pin secured to the rear surface thereof in a conventional fashion so as to allow the medallion to be fastened to a handbag, clothing, or the like.

Preferably, the medallion is formed from a plastic material. Various plastic materials can be utilized which are inexpensive to purchase and which can be readily molded about two permanent magnets so as to form the configuration illustrated. However, various other materials such as wood or a non-ferrous metal can also be utilized.

The present invention has been described in conjunction with a preferred embodiment. It should be understood, however, that numerous modifications can be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. For example, the overall design of the ornament is not critical except to the extent that the ornament defines as a portion thereof a male or female symbol and includes permanent magnet means positioned therein.

What is claimed is:

1. An ornamental article comprising:

a. a generally flat ornament having an externally visible symbol thereon denoting one of the two sexes and having a cavity therein extending substantially therethrough;

b. permanent magnet means positioned within said cavity generally coextensive therewith and having magnetic poles of one polarity outwardly directed from opposite ends thereof, said permanent magnet means being constructed and arranged in such a way as to adapt the magnet means to repel a similar ornamental article bearing said sex symbol and similarly arranged poles of said one polarity, and to attract a similar ornamental article bearing the other sex symbol and similarly arranged poles of the other polarity; and

c. an eyelet afiixed to said ornament suitable for threading a chain therethrough whereby the ornamental article can be worn as a necklace.

2. The ornamental article defined in claim 1 wherein;

a. said ornament includes a generally annular outer portion a center portion mounted within said annular outer portion generally coplanar therewith; and

b. said sex symbol is defined by a recession in said center portion.

3. An ornamental article of personal jewelry, comprising:

a. a generally annular mounting portion;

b. a generally planar portion mounted within said annular portion generally coplanar therewith and having an externally visible symbol thereon denoting one of the two sexes, said portion defining a central cavity therein having a generally circular transverse cross-section and extending with its long axis generally perpendicular to said planar portion; and

c. permanent magnet means positioned within said central cavity generally coextensive therewith and having like magnetic poles of one polarity outwardly directed at oppositely disposed ends of said central cavity, said permanent magnet means and planar portion beirtilg constructed an arranged in such a way as to adapt e permanent magnet means to repel a similar ornamental article bearing said sex symbol and similarly arranged poles of said one polarity, and to attract a similar ornamental article bearing the other sex symbol and similarly arranged poles of the other polarity. 

1. An ornamental article comprising: a. a generally flat ornament having an externally visible symbol thereon denoting one of the two sexes and having a cavity therein extending substantially therethrough; b. permanent magnet means positioned within said cavity generally coextensive therewith and having magnetic poles of one polarity outwardly directed from opposite ends thereof, said permanent magnet means being constructed and arranged in such a way as to adapt the magnet means to repel a similar ornamental article bearing said sex symbol and similarly arranged poles of said one polarity, and to attract a similar ornamental article bearing the other sex symbol and similarly arranged poles of the other polarity; and c. an eyelet affixed to said ornament suitable for threading a chain therethrough whereby the ornamental article can be worn as a necklace.
 2. The ornameNtal article defined in claim 1 wherein; a. said ornament includes a generally annular outer portion a center portion mounted within said annular outer portion generally coplanar therewith; and b. said sex symbol is defined by a recession in said center portion.
 3. An ornamental article of personal jewelry, comprising: a. a generally annular mounting portion; b. a generally planar portion mounted within said annular portion generally coplanar therewith and having an externally visible symbol thereon denoting one of the two sexes, said portion defining a central cavity therein having a generally circular transverse cross-section and extending with its long axis generally perpendicular to said planar portion; and c. permanent magnet means positioned within said central cavity generally coextensive therewith and having like magnetic poles of one polarity outwardly directed at oppositely disposed ends of said central cavity, said permanent magnet means and planar portion being constructed and arranged in such a way as to adapt the permanent magnet means to repel a similar ornamental article bearing said sex symbol and similarly arranged poles of said one polarity, and to attract a similar ornamental article bearing the other sex symbol and similarly arranged poles of the other polarity. 